Senior Project Officer

The Council of Europe Office in Chisinau assists the authorities in fulfilling their membership commitments and obligations, supports legislative and other reforms, provides expertise in the Organisation’s fields of competence, develops effective training programmes or implements activities such as thematic campaigns.

You will be part of the team implementing the Project “Supporting the Republic of Moldova in addressing the risks and harms related to drug use and addictive behaviors” which will include a Project Assistant, a Senior Project Officer and a Project Manager. The Project's implementation will be supervised by the Pompidou Group Secreteriat (Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions) at the Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law.

As a Senior Project Officer, you will: 

• plan, co-ordinate, design and implement project activities in line with the Council of Europe’s procedures and Project Management Methodology (PMM), with a concern for quality, efficiency, accuracy, and confidentiality, and in close co-ordination with the Project Manager and under the supervision of the Pompidou Group Statutory Secretariat, both located in the headquarters in Stasbourg, France;
• ensure close financial monitoring and budget follow-up in line with the logframe and workplans, as well as the implementation of project related procurement procedures and verify the purchase files, draft contracts, deliverables, and payment documents, in accordance with the Council of Europe regulations and procedures; 
• assist and organise the work of short-term consultants, including ensuring follow-up and quality of progress and final submissions; 
• co-ordinate and supervise the work of project staff and experts in individual activities/outputs of the work plan; 
• in co-ordination with the Project Manager, ensure the preparation and drafting of documents in line with quality and style requirements of the Council of Europe (e.g., progress, annual, mission reports, terms of reference for different contractual engagements, briefings, speaking notes, official speeches, relevant meeting documentation and minutes, etc.), including editing documents prepared by non-native speakers (in English / Romanian); 
• establish and maintain close working contacts with relevant project partners and local stakeholders, international organisations and civil society organisation in the field of drug and addiction policies and human rights protection of the affected groups, including national human rights and equality platforms and councils; 
• participate in and contribute to meetings between the Council of Europe representatives, experts and national authorities/counterparts/beneficiaries concerning the project and ensure that decisions taken at these meetings are carried out; 
• contribute to the assessment of results and achievements and advise headquarters-based team about risks and problems encountered; suggest new priorities and adjustments as necessary; 
• support headquarters-based staff and short-term consultants in the context of tasks and missions in the field; 
• ensure that decisions, final deliverables, project documents and correspondence are properly documented and filed, and assist in preparing the files and information for the internal and external evaluations and audit; 
• contribute to raising the visibility of the project by drafting web news items and press releases and by disseminating information; 
• undertake official journeys in connection with project activities and participate in meetings, seminars, working groups etc. related to the project activities; 
• assist in drafting new project proposals and activities; 
• contribute to the efficient functioning of the Office and regularly inform the Office management about project implementation, and co-ordinate work within the broader framework of the Office's overall activities; 
• follow-up on developments at national level (legal, policy, institutional levels) in areas covered by the project, and keep the Office management and the project management team at headquarters regularly informed of project results, further needs, and risks and opportunities for further interventions; 
• ensure effective management and co-ordination of the work of the local project assistant and contribute to the smooth functioning of the work of the Office;
• promote the Council of Europe's values internally and externally.

You must:

• have a completed full course of general secondary education and appropriate professional qualifications for the position;
• have a minimum of three years of relevant professional experience in contributing to the development and implementation of assistance and co-operation projects in the area of policy advice, drug and addiction policies at national or international level, or another relevant field such as criminal justice, health and social policies, or human rights, ideally in a management role;
• have an excellent knowledge of Romanian (first language level) and a very good knowledge of English (one of the Council of Europe's two official languages);
• be a citizen of the host country or one of the 46 member States of the Council of Europe and fulfil the conditions for appointment to the civil service of that state;
• be currently present in the Republic of Moldova;
• have discharged any obligation concerning national service (military, civil or comparable);
• not be the parent, child, stepchild or grandchild of a serving staff member of the Council of Europe;
• be under the age of 65 years.

Your application must demonstrate to what extent you have the competencies listed below. To help you doing so, feel free to consult our competency framework.

• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Operational - Analysis and problem solving
• Operational - Concern for quality
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation
• Interpersonal - Relationship building

Professional and technical expertise:

• Managerial - Organisational and contextual awareness
• Operational - Creativity and innovation
• Interpersonal - Initiative

Professional and technical expertise:

This job vacancy is for a local external recruitment based on fixed-term contracts. Employment is limited to 31 December of the current year and may be extended. You can consult the conditions of employment (salaries, allowances, pension scheme, social insurance etc.) on the webpage What we offer.

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process. This recruitment is carried out in accordance with Rule No. 2/2025 on locally recruited staff members in Duty Stations outside of France. The deadline for applications is indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above) and is fixed at 23:59:59 (CET/CEST). When applying, make sure your motivation shows how your competencies make your profile the best for the role.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunity policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve gender parity in staff employed in each category and grade. At the time of appointment, preference between suitable people shall be given to the person of the gender which is under-represented in the relevant grades within the category to which the vacancy belongs.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at talents@coe.int, we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at talents@coe.int.